Bearded Hollywood Actors: Better With the Beard or Better Without

There’s just something about a man with a beard. To me, a good beard makes a man look rugged and masculine but I’ll be the first to admit not all men can pull off the look. Some men just can’t grow a good beard. It comes out patchy and uneven looking and that just isn’t a good look on any guy. Other guys can grow a nice full beard but probably shouldn’t. Beards don’t work on everyone. The bearded Hollywood actors on this list have experimented with the facial hair, some with a successful outcome while others … well, not so much. So which of these bearded Hollywood actors should opt for the chin warmers all the time and which ones should keep their clippers close at hand? Let’s take a look.

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Alec Baldwin

Alec may not be some folks idea of a sexy man but he’s definitely mine. He might have a few issues with his temper but I love him all the same. He’s a talented actor who isn’t afraid to take risks. He’s also smart and outspoken – two characteristics I love in men. With all that said, the real question here is whether he looks better with a beard or without a beard. In my humble opinion, Alec looks far better without the facial hair. The beard makes him look older and makes his face look rounder. He looks much, much better with a bare chin.

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Ben Affleck

For a very long time, I was not a Ben Affleck fan. That has started changing as of late. I love celebrities who are outspoken and who stand for things and I think Ben is that kind of celebrity. In terms of physical attractiveness though, he’s never really been my cup of tea. I can see why women find him attractive but I was just never one of those women. Oddly enough though, that changed when I saw Ben sporting a beard. The beard makes Ben look more mature and grown up. I think that’s a great look on him.

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Brad Pitt

For me, Brad is a weird case. Sometimes the beard works for him, sometimes it doesn’t. Truthfully though, it’s rare to see Brad completely clean shaven so that makes the debate a little trickier. I think I’ve decided it really just depends on how much he commits to the look. A messy, unkempt beard makes him look rough and haggard while a neater, more cared for beard makes him look older and more masculine. There are too many variables for this one for me to make a decisive call so I’m going to say he looks better without a beard but it really does depend on the kind of beard he chooses.

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Christian Bale

Christian Bale is probably my favorite actor working in the industry today. He’s talented, daring and willing to take chances with his career by tackling big budget action films and more independent films alike. It just so happens I also find him incredibly sexy. The question is whether or not he’s sexier with a beard or without one. The answer? He’s absolutely sexy either way. The scruffier bearded look works for him but so does the clean shaven look. There are few guys on this list I can honestly say look good with beard or without beard but Christian is definitely one of them.

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David Beckham

David Beckham is a pretty, pretty man. Some ladies don’t love the more rough looking Becks. I am not one of those ladies. I like a clean shaven Beckham as much as the next girl but I prefer seeing him looking a little dirtier. I don’t like a guy that’s too pretty and perfect. I like guys who are a little rugged and a little messy. Nothing turns me off like a guy that looks like he gets longer to get ready than I do. Clean cut David brings to mind visions of waiting for hours while he primps and preens in front of the bathroom mirror. Messy David beings to mind visions of … well, much different things I won’t describe here because I’m a freaking lady. Rest assured though, there’s nothing G-rated about those mental images. Now, with all that said, David is rarely entirely clean shaven. I have to admit, I like the minimal facial hair over the full beard or mustache. A little facial hair is gritty but on a guy like David, too much is, well, too much.

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George Clooney

When I think of sexy male celebs, George Clooney is always one of the first actors to come to mind (just behind some of the other sexy studs on this list) and I don’t care what anyone says, I love George Clooney with a beard. There’s just something so dashing and distinguished about George’s grey beard. I honestly don’t think there’s a look Clooney couldn’t pull off though. He just has that kind of face. Is he the hottest guy on this list? No, but he’s pretty close.

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Hugh Jackman

There is absolutely nothing unattractive about Hugh Jackman. He’s talented, gorgeous and that body? Please. I am of the opinion that Hugh Jackman is just gorgeous no matter what he does – facial hair or no facial hair. Is he better with a beard or without a beard? It’s a tie. It is absolutely a tie. I’m more certain about this one than any other entry on this list. If I had to make a call, I don’t think I’d say Hugh is the man I find most attractive on this list but he’s certainly up there. I might even rank him second behind only the next man we’re going to look at.

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Jake Gyllenhaal

I love Jake Gyllenhaal. He’s gorgeous, talented and seems to be a pretty down to earth kind of guy who isn’t afraid to take risks in his career. Does he look better with a beard or without a beard? I’m going to have to call this one a draw. The beard makes Jake look older and more distinguished but there is definitely something to be said for the clean shaven look as well. There are a lot of men on this list I find attractive but few, on this list or otherwise, I find more attractive than Jake so that could explain why I like him with the beard or without. I might be just a little biased as I love Jake like I love puppies. Just being honest.

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Jim Carey

This one is tough for me. While I like Jim as an actor, I don’t find him especially attractive with a beard or without one. I suppose if I had to choose, I’d choose Jim without the beard. He has a nice, strong jawline and the beard hides that. Of course, Jim has a very over the top, out in left field kind of persona and in that respect, the beard really works for him. It’s just not my cup of tea – on Jim, at least. Other guys can pull off the mountain man kind of beard. I just don’t think Jim is one of them. I have to give him credit for trying it out but I’m glad to see clean shaven Jim back in the mix again.

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Joaquin Phoenix

Did you actually think I could do a list about bearded Hollywood actors without mentioning Joaquin’s epic meltdown beard from a few years back? Of course I couldn’t. While I was fairly certain the whole meltdown thing was some sort of elaborate method acting thing from the start, I was still pretty worried about the guy. With that said, I may have been the only person in the world that actually liked the beard on Joaquin. There was just something so “I don’t give a damn” about it and to me, there’s nothing sexier than a man that doesn’t give a damn what people think. As much as I liked the beard though, I definitely have to say he looks better without it. This man’s face is too beautiful to be hidden by that much fur.

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Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm is just ridiculous, isn’t he? So gorgeous, so charming, so completely unafraid of speaking his mind. I really think Jon is the walking, talking definition of sex appeal. He looks damn good clean shaven but he also looks damn good with a beard. Which do I prefer? I think I prefer clean shaven Jon but only by the slimmest of margins and if I was asked again tomorrow, I might have a different answer.

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Keanu Reeves

I have been madly in love with Keanu Reeves since I was about fourteen years old and I still love him just as much today as I did back then. With that said, I’ve never loved the beard. It’s patchy, messy and just not at all flattering to him in any way shape or form. That’s not to say he looks unattractive with a beard. It’s more that he just looks much, much better without it. Some of the “beard vs. no beard” battles on this list are close. This one is not. Better without the beard hands down.

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Robert Pattinson

A lot of people really don’t like the beard on Rpattz but I’m not one of those people. While I think he looks better a little scruffy and rough around the edges, I also think the beard is truer to who Rob is as a person. Of course, I don’t know Rob but it seems like he’s the kind of guy who probably doesn’t care to much about shaving every day. For me, that’s part of Rob’s appeal. He’s a laid back, casual kind of guy and for that reason along, I think the scruffy beard really suits him.

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Ryan Gosling

This one is probably going to get me in trouble but I always aim to be honest with my articles and this one can’t be an exception. I don’t find Ryan Gosling all that attractive. I love him as an actor and his band, Dead Man’s Bones, is one of my favorite bands (seriously, they’re awesome – check them out) but I just don’t get what all the fuss is about when it comes to his looks. With that said, I think he looks more attractive with a beard. It really suits him and highlights his strong jaw line instead of hiding it.

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Ryan Reynolds

I think Ryan Reynolds is gorgeous with a beard, without a beard, with a shirt and especially without a shirt. For me, this is another contest that’s too close to call. He really keeps his beard neat and thin which works but I also think he could pull off a fuller, bushier beard. He has a broad jaw that’s perfect for a beard but looks just as good without one. Ryan is the kind of guy who can pretty much pull off any look he goes for and the beard is no exception.

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Shia LeBeouf

I’m not really a Shia LeBeouf fan. I think he’s a good actor but sometimes feel his ego exceeds his body of work. There’s something almost pretentious about him at times and that sort of thing bothers me. With that said, I do think he’s exceedingly adorable – with a beard and without a beard. Is Shia LeBeouf hotter with a beard? I don’t really know. I don’t think he’s really hot in the traditional sense of the word to begin with – more adorable, kind of like a puppy dog. I think he looks okay either way. If I had to choose though, I’d have to go with Shia beardless as more attractive.

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Zac Efron

I’m just going to be blunt. Zac Efron kind of makes me feel like a dirty old woman. Sure I’m only 30 but still far too old to be drooling over Mr. Efron the way I do. This kid is gorgeous but keeping with the whole honesty theme I’ve been going for here, I have to admit I’m not a fan of the beard. I understand Zac is probably trying to make himself look older and more mature so he can compete for more mature film roles but I don’t think his attempt was successful. The look just isn’t working for me. Perhaps I’d like it better if he’d opted for a full beard instead of what he’s got going on here. In any event, he’s still a cutie. I just think he’s a bit cuter without the beard than he is with it.